Vehicular support-body stabilizing assembly



Dec. 16, 1958 c. W." GUERARD 2,864,584 VEHICULAR SUPPORT-BODYSTABILIZING ASSEMBLY Filed March 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cecil W.Guerard I IN VEN TOR.

9 Q BY Dec. 16, 1958 c. w. GUERARD 2,864,584

VEHICULAR SUPPORT-BODY STABILIZING ASSEMBLY Filed March 16. 1956 Fig. 3I '20 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 /a 56 so Cecil W. Guerard INVENTOR.

2,864,584 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 VEHICULAR SUPPORT-BODY STABILIZINGASSEMBLY Cecil W. Guerard, Grand Forks, N. Dak.

Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,151

2 Claims. (Cl. 254-1391) This invention relates generally to mobileunits and is more particularly concerned with a stabilizer assembly forthe support body of a vehicular crane commonly identified as a wreckeror tow truck.

Heretofore, the removal of heavy trucks, dozers, etc. from ditches,after being stuck in heavy mud, etc. has necessitated heavy powerequipment for the freeing thereof, and generally if an appreciable loadis to be moved by the wrecker or tow truck there is usually required apair of tow trucks operating in series wherein the forward tow truck isutilized as an anchor. Needless to say, the necessity for using pluralpieces of such equipment involves increased expense, wear on equipment,etc. and is highly undesirable.

The primary object of invention is to provide astabilizing assembly formobile work units incorporating a support body having a crane boom,winch and force transmitting cable, wherein the stabilizing assemblyincludes a support frame reciprocably supporting an anchor legpositionable in a support surface due to the free-falling thereofunderits own weight, said frame incorporating a brace assembly extending intoa support surface in spaced relationship from the anchor leg andpreventing lifting of the forward end of the support body when force isapplied on the force transmitting cable;

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth aboveis to provide a stabilizing assembly of the character set forth whichincludes a releasable latch assembly supported on an upper portion ofthe anchor leg whereby the anchor leg is raised by force applied on theforce transmitting cable to a predetermined position and wherein. saidanchor leg is automatically released to freely fall and penetrate asupport surface upon which the mobile unit rests.

Another object of invention in conformance with that set forth: aboveis. to provide a support body stabilizing assembly of. the character setforth which incorporates in the anchoring leg a ground penetratingportion and a lower connecting portion engageable with a hookv elementon the force transmitting cable wherein force is applied on the forcetransmitting cable which has been journalled in a. block and tacklesecured to a vehicle being moved by the work unit.

A still further object of invention in conformance with that set forthvabove is to provide a vehicular support body including a stabilizingassembly of the character set forth which is readily and economicallymanufactured, easily installed, used and maintained, and highlyeflicient and practical for the purposes intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the Work unit or tow truck withthe novel stabilizing assembly installed and showing the position of theforce transmitting cable with respect to a vehicle being moved from aposition in which it is stuck;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view' taken substantially online 33 of Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure3;

Figure 5 is an. enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of. Figure3';

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon line 7'-7 of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 showing, thealternate position of the parts when the latch assembly has beenactuated to permit the anchor leg to freely fall for placement in thesupport surface on which the work unit rests.

Referring to the drawings, a work unit or tow truck is indicatedgenerally at 10, said truck comprising abed' or frame 12 supportingthereon a suitable crane boom 14, a winch assembly 16, the winchassembly having connected thereto a flexible transmitting cable 18 whichis journalled over a pulley member 20 which is suitably supported on ahorizontal axis of rotation on the terminal end 22 of the crane 14. Theflexible force transmitting cable 18 has suitably secured on theterminal end thereof a suitable hook element 24- utilized in a manner tosubsequently become apparent.

Indicated generally at 26 is a truck-trailer rig which has become stuckin heavy mud, or in the ditch D, the tractor 28 of the truck-trailerincluding on its forward bumper portion 30 a suitable eye 32 throughwhich a block and. tackle pulley assembly 34 is engaged, it being notedthat the force transmitting cable 18 is journalled in the block andtackle assembly 34 for the purpose of attaining the mechanical advantageafforded by having said flexible force transmitting cable journalledtherein, the hook 24 on the end of the flexible force transmitting cableis being secured in a lower portion of the stabilizing assemblyindicated generally at 36 in a manner to subsequently become apparent.

As seen in Figure 1, tension applied on the flexible force transmittingcable 18 in the absence of the stabilizing assembly 36 results in adownward pressure of force at the terminal end of the boom 22 tending torotate the tow truck bed of the wheel assembly 35 tending to lift theforward end of the tow truck upwardly about the fulcrum of the wheelassembly 38'. The stabilizing assembly 36 prevents aforementionedtendency of the truck bed 12 to tilt in a clockwise direction about thewheel. assembly 38 as will subsequently become apparent.

The support assembly 36 includes a vertically extending frame 40 and arearwardly extending angularly related brace assembly 42.

The support frame 40 includes a pair of horizontally disposed frameelements 44 and 46 which may have an I-beam configuration being suitablysecured on the tow truck bed 12 in any suitable manner, for example bymeans. of the fastening elements 48, said members. 44 and 46 beingtransversely spaced on said bed 12 and having terminal endportionsextending beyond the rear end edge 50 of the truck bed 12. The framemembers 44 and 46 have secured thereto vertically extending rail members52 and 54, respectively, being secured thereto in any suitable manner,for example by means of welding, said rail members 52 and 54 having aC-shaped cross section and extending both upwardly and downwardly withrespect to the rear edges 50 of the truck bed.

An anchor leg assembly indicated generally at 56, is slidably supportedbetween the rail members 52 and 54, said anchor leg member 56 includingI-shaped vertical edge portions 58 and 60 which are connected by meansof a transverse web 62, the lower ends of the anchor leg member 56 andthe transverse web portion 62 terminating in a pair of spaced sharpenedend portions 64 and 66, as is clearly seen in Figure 3. v

The web 62 of the anchor leg members 56 includes a plurality oftransversely extending and vertically spaced passage portions 68, 70 and72 which may be aligned with transversely extending and oppositelydisposed apertures extending through the webs of the vertical framemembers 52 and 54 as indicated at 74, 76 and 78, the webs of the sideframe members 44 and 46 having transversely extending apertures 79 and80, respectively, extending therethrough which are in alignment with theapertures 76. A transverse lock rod 82 is extendable through the variousaligned apertures and bore portions 68, 70 and 72 for the purpose ofretaining the anchor leg member 56 in various positions of adjustmentrelative to the truck bed 12 since the anchor leg 56 has the lowerpointed portion 64 and 66 thereof inserted into the support surface S.The transverse web 62 of the anchor member 56 includes in a lower medialportion thereof a horizontally elongated slot portion 84 throughwhich-the hook 24 on the end of the flexible force transmitting member18 may be inserted when the same is tilted horizontally. Thus after theanchor leg 56 has been placed in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4the apparatus may be utilized as seen in Figure 1.

The vertical support members 52 and 54 have secured adjacent a topportion thereof in any suitable manner a transversely extendingreinforcing element 86 which may have a block element 88 secured on anintermediate medial portion thereof, said block portion 88 including anupwardly opening slot portion 90 to which a key member 92 integrallysecured on the train boom 14 may extend thus providing a substantiallyrigid support for the boom 14, however, such structure is not necessaryfor the proper operation of the apparatus.

Including and suitably secured between lower portions of the supportlegs 52 and 54 is a transverse brace element 94 to which upwardly andforwardly extending brace elements 96 and 98 are suitably secured attheir lower end portions, the upper end portions of the brace elements96 and 98 being suitably secured in any suitable manner to a lowerportion of the two truck frame.

The brace assembly 42 includes a pair of sleeve members 100 and 102which are pivotally connected at their upper end portions to a rodmember 104 extending transversely through opposite upper end portions ofthe support elements 52 and 54. The sleeves 100 and 102 telescopicallyreceive leg members 106 and 108, respectively, said leg membersincorporating a plurality of transverse apertures 110, see Figure 1,extending therethrough which are alignable with a suitable apertureportion in the sleeves, and a suitable transverse retaining pin 112 willretain the legs in their adjusted position. The legs 106 and 108 havesuitablyv secured at their lower end portions a foot element 114 whichis engageable with the support surface S, as seen in Figure 1. The braceassembly 42 has the foot portion 114 thereof positioned in dependingrearwardly extending relationship with respect to the anchor foot member56 and thus the anchor foot member 56 together with the brace assembly42 prevent the previously mentioned tendency of the tow truck to tiltabout the rear wheel assembly 38. The foot member 114, see Figure 5, hasan intermediately apertured portion 116 through which a spacing orsafety chain 118 is threaded, said chain having an opposite end portionsuitably secured to a transverse brace element 120 secured between alower rearwardly facing portion of members 52 and 54, as seen in Figure4. Since the legs 106 and 108 have been adjusted the chain 118 isapplied between the members 114 and 120 thus retaining a given spacedrelationship between the anchoring leg 56 and the brace assembly 42.

The portions 58 and 60 extend upwardly at 122 and 124, seeFigure 3,respectively of the upper edge 126 of the web or transverse portion 62of the anchor leg 56. The portions 122 and 124 are engageable at theirtop or upper edges 128 and 130, respectively, with an abutment nut orlug 132 which may be conveniently mounted on the rod 104. Anautomatically releasable latch assembly indicated generally at 134 issuitably secured on the upper edge 126 of the anchor leg member 56, saidlatch assembly being of the character disclosed in the patent toVanderloop, No. 2,659,288.

The latch assembly 134 includes a vertically extending tubular element136 which is notched out at its lower portion at 138, the element 136including a laterally extending apertured ear element 140 which slidablyreceives a rod element 142. The rod element 142 is threaded at its upperend 144 for accommodating an adjustment nut, at 146, and a suitablecompression spring 148 circumposed on the rod 142 between the nut 146and the apertured ear 140 thus urging the rod in the direction indicatedby the direction arrow in Figure 4. It will be noted that the adjustmentnut 146 may be rotated on the rod 142 thus varying the compressionapplied on the spring 148 for a purpose to subsequently become apparent.The sleeve 136 includes a lower forwardly extending lug element 150which pivotally supports a right angulated lever element 154 whichincludes a rearwardly extending portion 156 pivotally connected by asuitable pivot pin 157 at the lower end of the rod 142. As most clearlyseen in Figure 7, the lever 154 includes a forward portion 158, saidportion 158, see Figure 4, includes a depending lug 160 having a camroller 162 rotatably mounted thereon. A removable rod 164 is slidablysupported in the sleeve 136, said rod including on its lower end portionan abutment or camming surface element 166 which is engageable with theroller 162, the upper portion of the rod 164 having a transverse liftingportion 168 with which the hook 24 of the force transmitting cable 18 isengageable, see Figure 8.

When the anchor leg 56 is raised toward the position shown in Figure 8,the upper edge portions 128 and of the portions 58 and 60 of said anchorleg will engage the abutment portions 132 thereafter continued tensionapplying on the cable 18 results in urging portion in the directionindicated by the direction arrow of Figure 4 whereafter the anchor leg56' is free to fall under the force of gravity and the lower portions 64and 66 will be urged into the penetrating position shown in Figures 3and 4. After the anchor leg 56 is positioned as previously mentioned,the rod member 164 may be returned to the position shown in Figure 4 forfuture use, and the rod 82 may be inserted into position as shown inFigure 3. When the device is being transported the bore 68 of the anchorleg 56 may be aligned with the upper aperture portions 74 in the supportmembers 52 and 54 and the retaining rod 82 may be inserted therethrough.

After the anchor leg 156 has been positioned as previously mentioned,the force transmitting cable 18 is journalled through the block andtackle 34 as previously mentioned with the hook 24 being in engagementwith the aperture 84 in the anchor leg 56 after which tension is appliedby means of the winch 16 and the vehicle 26, or any material beingmoved, may be readily towed toward the tow truck, this job beingaccomplished by means of a single tow truck in a relatively safe andexpedient manner.

Various positional directional terms such as front," rear, etc. areutilized herein to have only a relative connotation to aid in describingthe device and are not intended to require any particular orientationwith respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a mobile work unit including a vehicular support body, a craneboom on the support body, the crane boom including an elevated terminalend portion, a winch assembly on said support body, a flexibleforce-transmitting cable operatively connected at one end to the Winchassembly and including an intermediate portion journalled over theterminal end of the crane boom, a hook element secured at the other endof the force-transmitting cable; and a vehicular support bodystabilizing assembly comprising a vertically extending support framefixed on the support body disposed beneath the terminal end of the boom,an anchoring leg member reciprocably supported on the support frame forlifting and gravitating downwardly and including a lower end portionpenetrable into a support surface by gravitation of the leg member, abrace assembly pivotally connected at an upper end portion of thesupport frame, the brace assembly including a lower end portionengageable with the support surface in spaced relationship from thelower end portion of the anchoring leg member, the anchoring leg memberincluding a lower connecting portion engageable with the hook element onthe force-transmitting cable for providing an anchor for the cable whenit is journalled through a block and tackle assembly connected tomaterial or a vehicle being moved by the work unit, said support bodystabilizing assembly including a releasable latch assembly carried on anupper edge portion of the anchoring leg member, said latch assemblyengageable with the hook element on the force transmitting cable wherebythe anchoring leg member may be lifted, and means for automaticallyreleasing the latch assembly in response to lifting of the leg member.

2. The combination of claim 1, said last named means comprising anabutment member on said support frame engageable by said latch assemblyin response to lifting of said leg member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.14,506 Egan Aug. 20, 1918 1,978,688 Lamb Jan. 15, 1935 2,622,652 Hubbardet a1. Dec. 15, 1953

